'NOW'S MY TIME': RICARDO VAN DEN BOS

FIGHTNEWZ.NET: You’ve signed for Melvin Manhoef’s Fighting Stars management company. That’s got to be a good career move?

VAN DEN BOS: It’s a big opportunity for me of course because he has a lot of contacts and he is training me hard because he is also my trainer.

I’m training harder than I’ve ever trained.

Before I trained a long time with Mejiro Gym and for a few months at Mike’s Gym in the other location.

After that I trained with Jan Plas and now I’m here with Melvin.

I’m 26 now and I hope to get to the top level. It’s in me, I’m sure.

Melvin is getting me there and I need the one on one training. Sometimes you need that.

The training is a lot harder, you just keep going and going when you are tired.

I think that’s the most important thing that he brings to his training sessions.

FIGHTNEWZ.NET: The first big fight you had for Fighting Stars was on their joint show with It’s Showtime in Amsterdam and you showed an incredible chin in defeat to Rico Verhoeven. How did you manage to take those punches and keep going?

VAN DEN BOS: They didn’t hurt me. I just want to fight and when I get punched and go for my shot I don’t know, I didn’t feel it.

You take it to give it, although sometimes that’s not good. I like to fight like that but I’m busy with tightening up my defence.

When I fought Rico Verhoeven I was just training for two-and-a-half weeks with Melvin.

But after that I’ve trained a lot more and now my guard is a lot better.

FIGHTNEWZ.NET: Any fights coming up?

VAN DEN BOS: I’ve got a fight coming up in Montenegro on December 10 against Goran Radonjic, who fought Mourad Bouzidi and Aziz Jahjah.

He is a tall, strong guy and maybe he is going to give me some injuries. But I don’t think about that, I just fight.

I want to punch and hurt him. I want to fight like that and I’m thinking like that.

I don’t mind if I lose or win. Now it’s not important. I have to get a rhythm in my fights first to get everything out in the right place.

FIGHTNEWZ.NET: You seem to be more of a puncher. Do you need to work on your kicks?

VAN DEN BOS: A long time before I kicked as well as I punched but in the last few fights I’ve punched more.

FIGHTNEWZ.NET: What is your background and training routine?

VAN DEN BOS: I’m from Zwolle. It’s about an hour and 15 minutes away and if I have fights coming up I travel to train in Oostzaan every day almost. I think four times a week.

My parents also have their own gym in Zwolle and I can train there.

It’s kickboxing and fitness - Loekie’s Gym - and I can train there every day if I want.

My dad trained with Andre Mannaart and Rob Kaman. He didn’t fight but he trained at the same level.

FIGHTNEWZ.NET: You’ve already fought a lot of top guys, like Ashwin Balrak for example.

VAN DEN BOS: Yeah, but I think it wasn’t my time to beat them. I think and I feel like now is my time to explode and get in the top.

I had enough talent before but talent isn’t enough. You have to live the life and I’ve changed my lifestyle.

That’s really important. Everything I do is around training. Before I didn’t think like that but now when I finish training and go home I’m already thinking about the next training session.

FIGHTNEWZ.NET: What is your fight record?

VAN DEN BOS: I really don’t know what my record is. I did a lot of amateur boxing fights and represented Holland when I was 17, I think, for the junior team.

I think four-and-a-half years ago I also boxed for Holland in the Windmill team.

But I thought I would get more into kickboxing because I have to make a little bit of money to live.

When I box and I break my nose I get nothing, because with amateur boxing in Holland you don’t get any money.

FIGHTNEWZ.NET: Do you have a job besides kickboxing?

VAN DEN BOS: I’ve got a job teaching children of different ages kickboxing and some aggression and self control lessons.